February 11, 2026
A roundup of domestic and world news
Newsroom, 11.02.2026, 13:55
Reform – The Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced that the public administration reform, included in the third package of measures aimed at reducing the budget deficit, would be adopted by the government next week at the latest. He also stated that the measures decided by the government do not only involve spending cuts. The statements were made amid protests by employees from hundreds of city halls across the country, who went on a warning strike on Tuesday. They are dissatisfied with the announced job and salary cuts, given that, they say, the staff is already insufficient and revenues have been reduced.
Pensions – The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has again postponed ruling on the reform of the magistrates’ pensions until February 18. According to Agerpres, sources from the Constitutional Court stated that the postponement was decided in order to analyze the request received from the Supreme Court to refer to the Court of Justice of the European Union a preliminary question regarding the Government’s bill to modify the special pensions of magistrates. The Supreme Court considers that the measures in the Government’s bill ‘may lead to discriminatory treatment of magistrates in relation to other categories of service pension beneficiaries’. This is the fifth time that the CCR judges have postponed the decision in this case. Romania risks losing European funds worth 230 million euros, if it does not adopt the law on magistrates’ pensions. The law reduces the amount of their pensions, so that they no longer exceed the last income from the active period, and increases their retirement age.
Meeting – The Romanian Defense Minister, Radu Miruţă, is today participating in the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and on Thursday in the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. The FAC meeting, chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, will focus on the EU’s military support to Ukraine, with special attention being paid to cooperation in defense innovation, as well as the prospects for security and defense this year. The NATO meeting program will include a meeting of the North Atlantic Council, in the format of defense ministers, dedicated to the deterrence and defense agenda, a meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine, a working lunch of the NATO-Ukraine Council, as well as the signing ceremony of the Letter of Intent on multinational approaches to military airworthiness in a crisis or conflict context. Minister Miruta will be accompanied to Brussels by the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Gheorghiță Vlad, and by the Secretary of State for Defense Policy, Planning and International Relations, Sorin Moldovan.
Cyber bullying – The European Commission has launched an action plan against online harassment or cyber bullying, as it is known internationally. The term refers to repeated insults or threats made through online platforms, social networks, texting applications, games or video platforms. The phenomenon has real effects on the mental health, trust and social relationships of children and adolescents and is a growing concern at European level. Consequently, the Commission proposes, among other things, the development of an EU-wide application through which victims of online harassment will be able to quickly report abuse and receive specialized support. The application will allow for the safe storage of evidence and will be connected to national help-lines adapted to each Member State.
Competitiveness – Several European leaders, including the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the French President Emmanuel Macron, are meeting today in Antwerp, Belgium, to present their ideas on increasing industrial competitiveness in the European Union, dpa reports. Around 400 representatives from various fields are expected at the European Industry Summit. The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof have also announced their participation. Tough competition, especially from China and the United States, extensive bureaucracy and high energy costs are weighing on Europe’s economy, but the approaches to the phenomenon are different, dpa notes. Merz and von der Leyen advocate reducing bureaucracy and propose amending EU legislation in this regard to reduce the reporting burden on companies. Macron supports preference for European companies in certain cases and joint debt to stimulate investment. The meeting in the Belgian port city will be followed on Thursday by an EU summit on economic issues. (LS)
